Tool for removal and replacement of half moon shaft locks

ABSTRACT

A tool for the removal and replacement of half moon shaped shaft locks consisting of a stationary anvil having an upper semicircular surface and a semi-circular groove therein and a cooperating die having a lower semi-circular surface. The die is supported by a handle which is pivoted at one end to cause the operating surface of the die to move in an arc which passes close to the working surface of the anvil whereby the die may be operated to remove a shaft lock on a shaft cradled in the anvil and, alternately, to cause a shaft lock to be forced on a shaft when the shaft lock is initially placed in the groove of the anvil and in engagement with a shaft groove and the handle operated to apply force to the shaft and thus cause the shaft to be forced downward against the shaft lock and in place in the groove in the shaft.

United States Patent 1 Rigsby et al.

1451 July 24, 1973 TOOL FOR REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF HALF MOON SHAFT LOCKS [76] Inventors: Thayer B. Rigsby, 3405 Carnelia PL,

Largo, Fla. 33540; Burl K. Rigsby, 110 Stillwood Dr., Manchester, Tenn. 37355 [22] Filed: Mar. 20, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 236,398

Primary Examiner-Othell M. Simpson Assistant Examiner-Harold P. Smith, Jr. Att0rney-C. A. Phillips [57] ABSTRACT A tool for the removal and replacement of half moon shaped shaft locks consisting of a stationary anvil hav ing an upper semicircular surface and a semi-circular groove therein and a cooperating die having a lower semi-circular surface. The die is supported by a handle which is pivoted at one end to cause the operating surface of the die to move in an are which passes close to the working surface of the anvil whereby the die may be operated to remove a shaft lock on a shaft cradled in the anvil and, alternately, to cause a shaft lock to be forced on a shaft when the shaft lock is initially placed in the groove of the anvil and in engagement with a shaft groove and the handle operated to apply force to the shaft and thus cause the shaft to be forced downward against the shaft lock and in place in the groove in the shaft.

3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Semi-circular ring shaft locks, commonly called half moon shaft locks are widely used to position rotary elements on shafts. One widely used application of such a shaft lock is on certain types of automobile starter shafts. Because of the heavy duty usage to which automotive starters are put, the overhaul of these devices is a very substantial business. Each time that one of these starters is disassembled it is necessary to remove a half moon shaped shaft lock and upon reassembly to reinsert it on the shaft. This is a rather tricky operation and often requires several minutes to achieve using conventional tools.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the tool of this invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a shaft lock.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the anvil and die portions of the tool illustrating the removal of a shaft lock from a shaft.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of die and anvil members of the tool positioned for insertion of a shaft lock on a shaft.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, in FIG. 1 there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of tool which comprises mounting base 12 provided with mounting holes 14 for attachment to work bench or other suitable work surface (not shown). Functionally, tool 10 includes, in general, a stationary lower shaft supporting anvil l6 and an upper cooperating die 18 carried by elongated operating handle 20, being pivotally supported at rear end 22 by vertical mounting standard 24 attached to mounting base 12. More precisely, vertically disposed shaft supporting anvil 16, preferably formed from rectangular tool steel bar, has lower end 26 transversely secured to mounting base 12 at a point 28 near forward end 30. A central semi-circular recess 32, milled into upper end 34 of anvil 16, is adapted to cradle an armature, or other shaft 36, FIG. 3, equipped with half moon shaft locking device 38 (FIG. 2). An inner slot (or groove) 40 is milled into inner surface 42 of recess 32, being dimensioned to support half moon type lock 38. Vertically disposed cooperating die 18, preferably formed of similar tool steel bar, is provided with semi-circular mounting recess 44, formed in upper end 46 and adapted to accept operating handle 20. Central recess 48 formed in lower end portion 50 of die 18 is dimensioned to freely engage outer periphery 52 of an armature or other shaft 36 (FIG. 3) as opposing end surfaces 54 and 56 engage opposing ends 58 and 60, respectively, of shaft lock 38. Upper die 18 is secured to operating handle at a point 62 intermediate ends 22 and 64 and extends downward in an essentially vertical plane, with respect to base 12, when forward surface 63 is engaged with shaft 36 at a point 66 immediately rearward of supporting anvil 16. Upwardly inclined operating handle 20 is terminated at forward end 64 by knurled hand grip 70 and is provided with longitudinal slot 72 at rear end 22 dimensioned to receive upper end 74 of vertical support standard 24. Vertical support 24, preferably formed of rectangular bar, is provided with mounting hole, not shown, adapted to pivotally support operating handle 20, being attached by rivet 76 through aligned holes 78 provided near rear end 22 of handle 20. Lower end 80 of vertical support 24 is centrally secured flush with rear extremity 82 of mounting base 12.

OPERATION To remove half moon lock 38 from shaft 36 so equipped, user lifts operating lever sufficiently to permit shaft 36 to be inserted, as shown in FIG. 3, with near portion 84 of shaft 36 nested by recess 32 of anvil l6. Shaft 36 is then oriented and positioned such that end areas 58 and 60 of lock 38 are exposed and essentially horizontal while being axially positioned so as to engage opposing surfaces 54 and 56, respectively, at lower end 50 of die 18. As operating lever 20 is depressed, lock 38 is safely removed from shaft 36. To reassemble half moon lock 38 to shaft 36, first insert lock 38 into inner receptacle 40 of recess 42 positioning free ends 58 and 60 of lock 38 upward, as shown in FIG. 4. Lift operating lever 20 and position lock receptacle 86 of shaft 36 so that ends 58 and 60 of lock 38 are engaged with receptacle 86. Lower operating lever 20 into contact with shaft 36 and depress lever 20 while applying a small counter force to extended portion 84 of shaft 36. This action safely forces lock 38 into receptacle 86 of shaft 36.

What is claimed is:

l. A tool for removal and replacement of half moon shaft locks comprising:

a support base;

an anvil supported on said base having a semicircular upper surface and a slot in said surface adapted to accommodate a half moon shaped shaft lock;

a pivotal support attached to said supporting base;

an operating handle pivotally supported by said pivotal support;

a die supported by said operating handle and having a semi-circular recess positioned generally opposite to and positionable by said handle to pass closely by said surface of said anvil when said handle is pivotally operated, whereby a half moon shaped shaft lock may be removed from a shaft by cradling the shaft in said anvil with said shaft lock positioned free of said anvil and positioned to be engaged by said die as said handle is lowered, and a said shaft lock may be inserted on a shaft by positioning the shaft lock in said slot in said anvil and the shaft positioned with the slot of the shaft above and in engagement with said shaft lock and then lowering said handle.

2. A tool for the removal and replacement of half moon shaped shaft locks as set forth in claim 1 wherein said die is mounted intermediate the ends of said handle.

3. A tool for the removal and replacement of half moon shaped shaft locks as set forth in claim 2 wherein:

said pivotal support is an upstanding elongated member supported at a lower end on said base and pivotally supports an end region of said handle at the upper end of said support, and

said die is formed of an elongated member which extends downward from said handle at an angle slightly less than 90", said angle being formed by said elongated member and the portion of said handle between said elongated member and the point at which said handle is pivotally mounted on said pivotal support. l l 

1. A tool for removal and replacement of half moon shaft locks comprising: a support base; an anvil supported on said base having a semicircular upper surface and a slot in said surface adapted to accommodate a half moon shaped shaft lock; a pivotal support attached to said supporting base; an operating handle pivotally supported by said pivotal support; a die supported by said operating handle and having a semicircular recess positioned generally opposite to and positionable by said handle to pass closely by said surface of said anvil when said handle is pivotally operated, whereby a half moon shaped shaft lock may be removed from a shaft by cradling the shaft in said anvil with said shaft lock positioned free of said anvil and positioned to be engaged by said die as said handle is lowered, and a said shaft lock may be inserted on a shaft by positioning the shaft lock in said slot in said anvil and the shaft positioned with the slot of the shaft above and in engagement with said shaft lock and then lowering said handle.
 2. A tool for the removal and replacement of half moon shaped shaft locks as set forth in claim 1 wherein said die is mounted intermediate the ends of said handle.
 3. A tool for the removal and replacement of half moon shaped shaft locks as set forth in claim 2 wherein: said pivotal support is an upstanding elongated member supported at a lower end on said base and pivotally supports an end region of said handle at the upper end of said support, and said die is formed of an elongated member which extends downward from said handle at an angle slightly less than 90*, said angle being formed by said elongated member and the portion of said handle between said elongated member and the point at which said handle is pivotally mounted on said pivotal support. 